In a swift change of heart, Atlanta Public Schools announced yesterday, that it would cave to public pressure and dish out $1,000 bonuses to its employees, a reward initially hesitated upon by the school system. The turnaround follows a public scolding from Georgia’s state superintendent of education, who was less than pleased by the system’s original intention to park the bonus money for other future priorities. The bonuses, part of Governor Brian Kemp's state-wide plan for state employees, comprise a move to bolster morale and retain vital staff amid pandemic recovery efforts and dipping teacher retention rates.
"We are committed to passing along any additional funds once funds are disbursed for the governor’s proposal and clarification is provided on which categories of employees should be covered by the bonus," Atlanta Public Schools spokesperson Seth Coleman told AP News. The system initially balked at paying out the bonuses, claiming to have preemptively issued a similar $1,000 "Mid-Year Holiday Retention Stipend" to employees. This course of action quickly shifted following a letter from Superintendent Richard Woods who expressed his disbelief over Atlanta Public Schools' initial claim. Woods' push effectively gave to set in motion the subsequent disbursement of state funds.
Yet, Kemp isn't solely focusing on immediate rewards. As reported by Hoodline, beyond the holiday bonus, Kemp's vision extends to fortifying school security with a significant financial commitment. Over $100 million have been earmarked for school safety funding in the Georgia governor's latest policy move. Each public school in the state is slated to receive $45,000 for safety upgrades starting next fiscal year - a pledge that promises not just a one-off influx of cash but an annual allocation intended to make certain the schools can invest confidently in security measures.
"Given how hard these men and women have worked to serve Georgians during the pandemic, to help keep our community safe, and to help make the state government more streamlined and efficient, this seems wholly appropriate to me," Kemp told constituents at the Capitol as he announced the bonus checks. The governor also threw his weight behind a proposal to cut the state's personal income tax rate, ostensibly to put more money back in the pockets of Georgians, as a further indication he is willing to significantly invest to keep the state's educational employees satisfied and its school children safe.
